By Wilfred Eya
Senator Nkechi Nwaogu PhD, former Abia Central federal constituency representative at the red chambers is a journalist delight any day as she will not parry any question put across to her no matter how controversial. She is bold, courageous, and a grassroots politician. Senator Nwaogu was chairman, senate committee on Oil and Gas resources, Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other related financial matters. She has also been the Chairman, Governing Council, University of Calabar.
In this interaction, she spoke on President Bola Tinubu-led government, frustrations, security challenges and the economy, giving reasons why Nigerians should exercise patience with the government.
How will you react to the present Nigeria’s condition considering the hunger, frustration, insecurity and the down-turn in the economy?
This your question is a double barrel one but let me first admit that things, perhaps, are not the way most Nigerians expected it to be given their expectations from President Tinubu’s presidency. But you ask yourself: Is the president folding his hands over the situation? The answer is a capital No. No doubt, a lot of policies are being put in place. And mind you, these policies don’t mature overnight, it takes time too. We should also know that most of what we are witnessing today are products of what was inherited, so it’s not going to be a walk in the park, it’s not going to happen like a miracle. It is one that requires diligent planning, good vision, wisdom, strong political might, and cooperation by Nigerians to make things happen faster. I have never been a praise singer, or afraid to speak out my mind on critical issues, so what I am saying is Yes, things are difficult but the government is on top of the challenge and those who know president Tinubu will tell you that he is one that also thinks outside the box. I can tell you that he is worried too, he is concerned and not just mouthing solution but ensuring that things are properly fixed. Remember too, that this government is still young and a government that is barely eight months, I think, still needs a bit of time for an honest assessment. Look, my confidence is that the government is not folding its arms but working and the assurance that things will get better is there because soon, the implementation of the policies will begin to yield laudable results. I do not think there is a magic wand for today’s economic reality but with careful planning and implementation of right policies, the solution will show up, and we will get out of the present situation. There is no quick fix, but with the implementation of the right policies which is in operation as we speak, things will get better. You know that the way things are turning out will equally be an embarrassment to the president and he is equally worried too. I can tell you he is working round the clock and not folding his arms. Let’s be patient with him. Nigeria’s economy does not function in isolation but also is affected by the global economy, and whatever happens in some other economies, like UK economy, American economy will also trickle down here. Three major issues that worry us most today are: hunger, economy (Dollar having a free fall) and insecurity and all of them are interrelated. You cannot fix one and leave the other because they are interconnected and you have to tackle them strategically and such result cannot be overnight.
I know that there is hunger in the land but this hunger if we must tell ourselves the truth did not start on May 29, 2023. It did not start immediately the current president was sworn-in. As a journalist that you are, you know that this government does not hide information concerning the situation. They have always been open on what the government is doing and in some cases, they have changed some of their options to align with the majority opinion.
Nobody can accuse this president of ineptitude, incompetence, or being inactive or unconcerned given the matured way he is handling issues. The president has directed those in the food and storage sector to ensure they release food and grains. Let’s wait and see if that instruction or order will not be followed with action.
I am also worried that all eyes are at the centre, on Mr. President alone while we have refused to understand that we have three tiers of government. We have the federal, state and the local government and all should be made to be responsive, accountable.
But the almighty authority, so to speak resides at the centre, in Abuja…?
(Cut’s in) It should not be so, and it should not be reason for the state and local governments to relax or abandon their own responsibilities. Both the state and local governments are also getting money from the centre and we should also be interested in how they are using their allocations. Nigerians are crying of hunger and starvation, and we should ask ourselves: What are the governors doing to ameliorate the situation in their states? What are the local government chairmen doing with their allocation? The allocations that we are talking about here is not a small money but huge allocations that run in millions and billions. What have they done with the money? What palliatives are they also arranging for their people? Nigerians must begin to interrogate these issues rather than everybody focusing on the President. Our searchlight must be on all of them, not only on the President.
We have 774 local government areas in Nigeria and if all of them are alive to their responsibilities, we will not be where we are today. It’s time to widen our conversations on what they are doing with what they are receiving as allocations. Most of the local governments, more than 85 percent of them are comatose and it should not be so.
Let’s come back to the issue of hunger and frustration in the land?
It’s really sad on what the people are going through but as I said earlier, Nigeria cannot operate as an island as happenings in the international community also trickle down here. I am not using it as an excuse for our situation but only some days ago, I think Italy and UK are going down the recession lane. Some of the things that we are witnessing are not a Nigerian thing but, sometimes, due to factors that beyond us. It is not enough for people to begin to sing: President Tinubu give us food, they should go a further to equally make demands from their governors and local government chairmen and councilors.
But having said all, the president is the father of all. He will do his own bit. But as I have argued elsewhere recently, eight months is not enough for any magic wand that will solve all the problems with immediate effect. I will ask fellow Nigerians that we are all suffering the same thing: the economic hardship, high cost of living etc but I think we should also direct our anger not only on Mr. President but to our various state governors and our local government chairmen. Out of our 36 state governors, I do not think if more than 10 are performing or stable economic-wise. But one can ask: Is there any state that does not have what they can produce to generate good internal revenue? Is there any state with no mineral or natural resources to harness? There is no state in Nigeria that has nothing to give as a natural resource that can generate revenue. What are they doing to maximize those opportunities? But in all, I still think we should exercise patience with President Tinubu. Let’s not forget that he (Tinubu) is also known to be a wealth creator and all of that will not come overnight. It takes some time too. The president is not ignorant that production, production, production is a major key for survival and he is addressing it through his need-meeting, socially-relevant and service-oriented policies and projects.
Let me also say that this hardship, inflation, and some other vices is a product of corruption. There is corruption everywhere and we cannot just be pointing accusing finger at the Federal Government. At the state level, local government level etc, nowhere is free of corruption. Go to the ministries and you see that just for your file to get any attention, you grease somebody’s palm. It is even the directors that are taking the contracts that contractors are supposed to take. It’s something that I think that somebody as courageous as our present president can fight. Look at the decision he took when some of the ministers and some Heads of Agencies were found wanting. He did not look back in firing some of them. I pray that the country will begin to have a positive outcome as a result of some of these interventions.
But do you think the government is doing enough on the issue of security?
I am glad that during the week, the president and the governors with the Service Chiefs are looking at the state police option. I think it’s a good development. I know that some people are afraid that if there is state police, the governors will be using it to witch-hunt perceived opponents or the opposition but we now have very active role by human rights groups, so any abuse will be challenged in court. In some other climes, they have both federal, state, community and even the university police and all are very effective and they know their boundaries. I believe that any governor who wants to abuse it will have himself to blame because there will be constitutional provisions to checkmate abuse. The civil society will not let such governor breathe. I can tell you that the advantages of state police far outweigh its disadvantage. You cannot take a policeman or woman to a place he is stranger, an alien, unfamiliar, where you don’t understand the language and you expect the person to perform efficiently. It’s not possible. Those that are familiar with their environment should police the place because they know the bad elements in the area. The local government administration, the youth, with the traditional leaders, all should work together but with legislation and supervision from the state. It is only people that are familiar with a place that can effectively police the area. My position is that if we finally legislate or legalise state police as the option, our security challenges will gradually die on its own because offenders can easily be tracked down and made to face the wrath of the law.